In memory of David Strieff: A charming and righteous man

David Hall Strieff, 69, died peacefully but too soon on June 5th due to complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He was born in Harvey, IL, and graduated from Glenbard West and Coe College.

A loving father and grandfather, he loved providing opportunities to enjoy the beaches of Sanibel, or a few days at Christmas in Savannah or Tucson. He loved travel and had many destinations still to be experienced when his time on earth ended. As a retired copywriter, David enjoyed working for the Transforming Center as liturgist and resources manager. He found great fulfillment in using his voice and love of reading to bless others. An avid bicyclist, he biked his age in years on each birthday.

Someone once called him a “charming man.” Another a “righteous man” and it made him happy for those qualities to be his epitaph. When his illness became more severe at the end, hundreds of people expressed their sadness and the impact knowing David had on their lives. His was a life well lived.

Preceded in death by his parents, Ruth (Hall) and David T. Strieff, David is survived by his wife, Dalene, daughters Sarah Strieff and Rachel (Ryan) Melyon, grandchildren Lincoln and Beau Melyon, sister Mary Strieff, nephew Jonathan Strieff, his step-sons John Morgan and James Morgan, and many other extended family, childhood friends and fellow life journeyors who loved him deeply.

The Transforming Center is honoring David’s contribution to our life as a worshiping community by establishing the David Strieff Memorial Chapel on our property. In lieu of flowers, David requested donations be made to the Transforming Center, 209 S. Naperville Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187. Or you may donate to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (click “Honor a Loved One” then add his name to the list of Tributes).

A service celebrating his life will be held July 1 (details below). Arrangements handled by Yurs Funeral Home, Geneva, IL, 630-232-7337. Visit www.yursfuneralhomes.com to sign the online guest book.

June 8th we held a mid-day prayer service honoring our life together in community with David, and prayed this prayer together. Click here if you would like to download the full service.

THE COLLECT FOR PEACE

Almighty God of grace and glory,
WE REMEMBER BEFORE YOU TODAY OUR BROTHER, DAVID STRIEFF. WE THANK YOU FOR GIVING HIM TO US, TO KNOW AND TO LOVE AS A SPIRITUAL FRIEND AND MINISTRY COMPANION.

IN YOUR BOUNDLESS COMPASSION, CONSOLE US WHO MOURN. RENEW OUR FAITH, THAT WE MAY SEE IN DEATH THE GATE OF ETERNAL LIFE AND EXPERIENCE HIS JOY AT BEING FULLY TRANSFORMED IN YOUR PRESENCE.

GRANT US QUIET CONFIDENCE, THAT WE MAY CONTINUE OUR COURSE ON EARTH, UNTIL BY YOUR CALL, WE ARE REUNITED WITH HIM AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE;
we ask this for the sake of your love.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Service Information

We are planning to celebrate David’s life and ministry in a couple of different ways on Saturday, July 1st. For anyone who would like to join us, there will be a time of prayer, Scripture, music and reflection from 1:00-2:00pm at Rejoice Church in the Mill Creek subdivision in Geneva, IL. Those who knew David as liturgist for the Transforming Communities know how important these times of prayer were to him.

Then, just a few blocks down the street, at Mill Creek Golf Club, we will have a time of enjoying hors d’oeuvres and refreshments, telling stories, viewing pictures, and hearing the music he listened to while biking. This gathering will begin at 2:30pm.

Mill Creek is approximately 15 miles (half hour) from Wheaton, 45 miles (1 hour) from O’Hare and 50 miles (1 hour from Midway).

While there is no formal RSVP, it will be helpful for our planning to know that you are hoping to come. Email if you think you will join us.

the Transforming Center

desires to see churches and Christian organizations become communities of authentic spiritual transformation – and that begins with transforming leaders. We seek to strengthen the souls of pastors and leaders, equipping them to guide their churches and organizations to become spiritually transforming communities that discern and do the will of God in their settings. Read more about the Transforming Center.

8 Comments

Bob McKennaon June 12, 2017 at 7:18 pm

Dear Ones,
This is the first I’m hearing about David’s passing. My eyes have welled up with tears and my mind filled with many memories of my interactions with David while apart of the Community of TC 9.
I remember being blessed to be in Centering Prayer one morning as he lead us into the Presence.
David was one of the most kind, open and gentle souls I have met. My prayers and Care are with you all.

Bob I am sorry that David’s death was the first communication you have received. We did have a few communications to alumni about the seriousness of the situation and realized that the list we used did not have TC 9 alumni in it. I apologize as it was our desire to keep people informed who had been in a Transforming Community as David was always a welcoming presence in each community.

I cannot tell you how sorry I am about this. Despite our best efforts to have our lists right, this someone fell through the cracks. Not intentional and certainly not ideal. What a shock this must have been!

Kathy McCreadyon June 12, 2017 at 12:25 pm

Dear Friends, My heart grieves along with you for the loss of David’s presence in our lives. I so appreciated his kindness and quiet joyful spirit. But I can choose to rejoice at the fact that David is now experiencing the ultimate freedom and joy at beholding Jesus face to face.
Lovingly,
Kathy

Thanks to all you who have sent your condolences, not just to Dalene, but to me and to us here in the Transforming Center. David’s death is an immeasurable loss within our community and your thoughts and prayers have ministered to us deeply. Tears are always close to the surface and today, as a staff community, we took well over an hour to try and express all he meant to us, how deep the loss goes, and how difficult it is to envision our future without him. We were drawn back into the Emmaus Road story as we discussed “all these things that have happened”–including our dashed hopes for a lung transplant for David. We did so trusting Jesus to draw near with the comfort only he can bring. We know many of you are in deep grief as well, which is why we are sharing our simple prayer service and a special Collect we wrote for today. This is what we do, even (and most especially) when things are hard and unthinkable, and we invite you to join us. We look forward to seeing many of you in person on July 1.